Virtual Chemistry Labs

The chemistry simulations software is designed for students, to do things in a chemistry lab except for that it is being done in the computer. It has many advantages for both students and teachers.

The following are the advantages of using simulations;

1. It saves much time and cost. It saves time since the instruction is made clear and easy in simulation and students understand the principles of working with it before actually doing it in the real-chemistry lab. Teachers’ need not give much instruction because simulation is very much student-driven. It saves cost because students do not waste chemicals or break equipments for not knowing what to expect of mixing certain chemicals. Students get a chance to try out new things in a virtual-lab which would be risky in the real-lab.
   

2. It helps the teacher to know where a student fails to understand, by checking the assignments that the student did in the virtual lab-assignment book and the student could be corrected before actually doing it wrongly in the real-lab. The teacher could pay attention to individualized instruction by looking at the performance of every student.
   

3. Simulations help the student to try what they learned in the class and check if that is true. Students get a chance to explore what they know and learn to figure out their own way of doing things.
   

There are many advantages in using simulations for other content areas which involve certain risks for students. For example while using simulations for dissections. Students could interact with the dissecting animal and could examine what happens inside the animals without getting hurt or dirty. There is also no killing of animal (getting permission form the Institutional Review Board) and need not worry about accidental cuts and wounds while using forceps, knives and scissors.

Simulations could help the students understand the circumstance and react accordingly. For example, to teach topics like; what happens if students do deep-sea diving without prior experience? Simulations could offer such learning experience and students can understand how to react and make decisions if they encounter such circumstances in their real-life. So, simulations offer different learning experience that students would not normally experience. This helps them to get prepared for some unexpected situations or circumstances.

The tasks that involve students to investigate, inquire and discover could be very well taught using simulations. Learning-by-doing, discovery learning, constructivism, inquiry method and meaningful learning are some of the learning methods that could be implemented in computer simulated classroom environments.

Classroom Management Software

Microsoft management software has a ‘Class server’ at the teacher end and a ‘Class Server’ at the student end. Class server is one of the tools that helps manage class room works like activities and assignments. It makes the job easier for the teachers, students and parents with respect to teaching and learning. Teacher Class Server allows the teacher to create any resources assignments or activities add it to the school server, and then onto the Student class Server. In that way, student could access to what they should be doing as individuals.

This software also has provision for the teacher to tailor the assignments according to every student’s learning style. It automatically grades the assignments and records them. I think this (grade and record) would be the most difficult part for a teacher to accomplish in the given time. All that a teacher needs to do is to create the assignment. Resources include any type of questions (multiple choice, essay type) or activities. It is teacher friendly. Even if the teacher wants some resource to be aligned for the state Standards, he/she could combine it with ‘virtual education’ software to make sure that it fits into State Standards. ‘Virtual education’ is a software that checks the resource if it fits into the Standards. It really reduces teachers work and stress. The teacher could also use this as an assessment tool to assess her/his instruction quickly and could reteach them if necessary.

This tool is interactive in nature, so it is interesting for the students too. They like working with student class server, because the assignments are not going to be the same for every one they could show their individuality. Parents also get a chance to help their kids or reflect on their kids’ performance on the assignment. Parents also take part in the progress and learning experience of their kid.

This type of classroom management would help the school district to produce good results, because the teachers’ job is made easy. At the same time, this could also help to check if the students are tested or assigned works that meets State Standards. I really like the way the classroom management tool works; because as a teacher I could understand the importance of this tool in making my teaching efficient, improving my students learning experience as well. Time is the main constraint for most of the teachers in completing the tasks; and this tool will be really helpful in accomplishing those tasks. I think the main obstacle would be the cost. I could not imagine if this tool would be affordable for all the schools.

Using handhelds in the classroom

There are many ways to incorporate handheld devices into teaching. One of the ways that graduate students were planning to use handheld computers for teaching was through a software program called ‘Sketchy’. This program was designed in such a way to help solve difficult chemistry problems as in Stoichiometry calculations. Further they mentioned that any step by step process could be used in Sketchy. Next, for teaching the students how to access graphs those are generated by this device and to see their footprints. The users were also able to save a periodic table in the handheld device.

The professor identified lack of distracters as one of the main advantage of handheld devices over laptops. He considers handheld devices to be powerful since, it does not play videos and does not have access to the internet.

Some general advantages of using wireless technologies in the classroom are that it motivates the students a lot. It breaks the monotony of a routine lecture class. Using WIFI would also help the teachers and students to access online resources whenever they need it. Students are excited about knowing and using a technology and learn more than being in a traditional classroom setting. As it interests students, they learn quicker. Students could teach among themselves. Using this type of handheld technologies in the classroom make the students work in groups and help each other. Students do not feel learning is something burdening, but they do enjoy learning. Use of wireless technologies also helps for the classroom management, since students are actively involved in learning to operate or learning the curriculum. It does not require a huge work station. Interestingly, it helps students develop self-esteem and confidence.

The use of wireless technology in the classroom changes the classroom atmosphere and the way the students communicate among themselves and to the teacher. As far as technology is concerned students learn quicker than teachers, so they do not completely rely on their teacher for every instruction. As far as I know, present classroom environment sometimes uses the wireless technology like ‘clickers’ to respond immediately to the questions being asked. In this way, it helps the teacher for immediate assessment of his/her instruction. Traditional classrooms were very boring, did not have any interesting technology used in their classroom, but present day and future students are very much exposed to this and get a variety of learning experiences.

An adaptive keyboard

An adaptive Keyboard is one of the important tools that could be used to assist physically disabled persons in using the computers. Keyboards in different size and shape are available and could be used as such or could be modified according to the needs and comfort of the learner. The teacher in the video used ‘word prediction program’ which allowed the user to make some choices of words as the student entered one letter. After watching the video, I realized that there are a lot of technologies out there, and could be used in helping the physically-challenged students learn, and this is one among them. The interesting thing about this program is that it lets the teacher to prepare individualized instructions as well as design a lesson plan around a particular aspect of the curriculum, so it is very much user friendly.

I certainly believe that this type of technologies could definitely be used by other types of students. For instance, all the students in a class will not have the same level of capacity in understanding or getting information. Every student’s learning style differs (even if they are not special kids) and the instruction requires little manipulation to suit everyone; in such situations technology helps both the teacher as well as students to meet their needs. So, a similar technology like word prediction program could be tailored in teaching them.

Considering older individuals for using these types of technology is also very much possible. Perhaps little changes in the design of the keyboard or some modification in the programs would help them learn better. Voice activated browsers is one such kind. Many other graphic user interfaces can also be very well used to ease their difficulty in understanding and responding. In my opinion, Stephen William Hawking (An Applied mathematician and theoretical physicist) is one of the best examples of how technology could be used for older individuals.

Planning technology - Learning the rules for computer use

The two problems the teacher identified with the third grade students as she prepared to use the computers were: 1. 14 computers for 20 students 2. Moving students as well as chairs to the computer table. Yes they did overcome the problem. To overcome the first problem, the teacher paired the students so that every body gets to use the computer. For the second problem; the teacher divided the students using (red and black) cards. A Student who gets one or the other card of a pair brought their chair to the computer table. By doing so, the teacher avoided the confusion, paired the students and brought the chairs to the computer table.

Two years ago, I had an interview in one of the best schools in my city, back in India. I performed well in the interview, and next I had to show my credentials to the school-officials. While I was showing the certificates, suddenly I realized that I was missing one of them. I felt bad. But luckily, they gave me a chance to show that later. Though I had prepared well enough to get through that interview, I failed to check if I had carried everything with me. In this case, I got an opportunity to provide that missing certificate later, but a similar incident happened once again in another scenario, but I happened to make the same mistake again. So, I think I have been not successful in making sure that I had everything with me at the right time. If I plan properly I would not land in such situations at least in future.

I was interested in learning ‘Karate’ (a martial art) right from my childhood. My parents also agreed and asked me to learn. I did not have a plan and I postponed joining a karate class, all these years. Though I had plenty of chances to learn till my 12th grade, I did not learn. I have been busy in my studies even after that, and I could not make it happen till today. At this age, I think the opportunities are less. I feel very much disappointed and unsuccessful whenever I come across a frightful situation and when I am in need of protection. I think if I had planned properly early in my childhood and learned; I would have been more successful.

strategies for teaching diverse learners

The two example of how these two teachers are using theory of multiple intelligences in the assignments are:

1. One of the teachers (Kate Barnett) was encouraging the students to use their linguistic and Spatial-Visual Intelligences to make the students understand about the article, Coral reefs. She asked the students to report back what they learned about the vocabulary for the selected article. She also gave options for the students like; students who are comfortable in writing could write it and students who have trouble in writing could use pictures to represent their understanding.

2. Another teacher reported that she engages linguistic, spatial-visual and intrapersonal intelligences to teach their students. For understanding the vocabulary, she also gave options to the students to write a definition, draw picture or provide personal examples of how they are connected to their own life situations.

Since the article is about coral reefs, I think they could have also used musical and bodily kinesthetic intelligences to report what they learned about the vocabulary. Because, all the students will not fall under any of these two categories. So for example, if a student is good in musical intelligences, he/she could use some sort of sounds to represent what they learned or understood. If a student is good at bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, he/she could use their body movement to demonstrate what they learned.

I would suggest one of the visual learning software ‘Inspiration’ to teach diverse learners. I have used this software for ‘concept mapping’ and I think this would be an interesting tool for the learners. There are a lot of templates available and at the same time we can also create our own.

self-Introduction

Halo Everyone...

I am Tamilselvi Gopal. I am a full-time graduate student in science education at the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (USM). This is my fourth semester towards my doctoral degree. I earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Biology, and another bachelor’s degree in education, back in India. Before joining this program, for four years, I worked as a biology teacher for middle and high school students. At present, I am teaching Anatomy and Physiology labs (BSC 250L) at USM from spring 2008.

I have not taken any online courses before. This is my very first experience. During the progress of my degree I got opportunities to develop some computer skills like word processing - while preparing for the assignments, spreadsheets for data analysis of a project work, and power point slides for presentations. I also have experience working with Adobe acrobat for PDF, Inspiration for concept mapping, and Inkscape for graphics. I used the communication tools like email, listserv and chat while I was submitting my works for other SME and BSC projects, presentations and assignments. I really like the way email, listserv and chats work, since it saves time and avoids confusion.

During my course work I also had chances to use technology tools like podcasts, wikis, blogs, and video clips. When I was working on research projects, for any unknown topic I first go to wikipedia to get an idea about the concept, and then later I collect some more reliable data to get deeper understanding. For the presentations, I have used video clips from Google videos or You tube videos to make the presentation interesting and easy. When I am browsing to learn something new, I prefer to use some video clips or pod casts to listen and understand. Even in some of my classes my instructors used them.

I think this course would teach me more educational technologies than those I am aware of. At the same time, I also hope this course would help me to implement efficiently the tools and techniques that I already use in my class.

Cheers

Selvi